Readers' comments

Britain no longer exports many manufactured goods because Britain no longer produces any goods that people want to buy -- no cars, planes, trains, ships, machine tools, motorbikes, TVs, computers, phones, or indeed anything people want. The only items Britain still sells abroad are items they assemble for foreign companies.

The short-sighted policy of selling up to foreign companies, which has been the only industrial policy of the UK Government this past 30 years, has reached its inevitable and terminal conclusion. When you don't have your own industry, you can never have that 'breakthrough product' that people have to have. Exporting manufactured goods will be a long time in returning to the UK.

Can someone please explain to me why debasing the currency cheapens your exports, it sounds good as a 1 step process, but your paying more for your materials, it has no effect other than thieving money from the citizens. Under Thatcher and Reagan, with strong currencies the economy boomed, so what gives with this?

What does it matter if the it is in goods, services and income and not just goods? Obviously it would be great if we double goods exports, but to hang our heads in shame and talk of enduring disappointment is just being cynical and negative for the sake of it.

Okay. The goods deficit actually wipes out the surplus in services and income. I get it now. But we're still well ahead of Belgium, Italy and Holland in terms of overall exports. Indeed, 2nd in Europe.

Confirms what I have always said .. Small and meium size firms are very important for exports, for job creation , and in a less regulatory environment - for innovation.
.
The big companies have gotten big because of uniformity and ease of procedures overseas.
.
What they have not done is - increase job growth locally, and for innovation they often swallow up small and medium size companies.
.
what the UK needs ARE trading house companies like the Japanese have always had - These companies foster the exports of small to medium size businesses and they continue to be the channels of information for that country.
Trading house companies are the sponsors that help small to med. size companies grow.

And another thing! Compare the numbers of comments on Herr Ratzinger's resignation and Britain's export performance. 185 vs 2 (at time of comment post). Does this say anything about Britain's commitment to trade with its neighbours I ask. I think we should be told.

I think Britain's exports have lagged despite a weakening pound because its main trading partners (the EU and the US) has had weak growth. The US in particular has had a depreciating currency that is starting to compete against the UK for markets. Another issue is that the UK pound might be in the right exchange rate versus the euro, Candian and US dollars, but for trade all these Western currencies are greaty overvalued againt Asia which makes up a large share of world trade. Asia will persist at an undervalued exchange rate because their governments are actively involved in foreign currency markets. They set off the currency wars in the early 2000s - the rest has just caught on.

One of the most popular products filling this respondent's car boot on chunneling back to NL is tea bags. With the kick of a mule. US and Euro tea is a joke (in poor taste) by comparison. So much for British exports.